In the galleries in October

Updated 10:00 pm, Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Kerry Skarbakka likes the dead man's float. In his unnerving new photographic series titled "Fluid," he hangs like a corpse in various kinds of murk.

New York's Skarbakka and Seattle's amazing Susie J. Lee, a video artist fresh out of art school, open Thursday night 6-10 at the Lawrimore Project, 831 Airport Way S., walking distance through the International District from Pioneer Square, which is hosting First Thursday Gallery Walk, 6-8 p.m.

In the Square, top shows include Geoffrey Chadsey'smeticulously creepy drawings at the James Harris Gallery, 309 Third Ave. S. Sex is the elephant in Chadsey's work, and the dead eyes of his sexual provocateurs belie the beauty of their rendering.

Also promising is "Facade" at Soil, 112 Third Ave. S., curated by Chris Engmanand featuring photographers who deal with environments on life support. Next door to Soil is Garde Rail Gallery, 110 Third Ave. S., offering new drawings by the poet of deadpan repetition, Gregory Blackstock.

Soil and Garde Rail are on the west side of the Tashiro-Kaplan Building, but a trip to the east side is essential, thanks to Jen Erickson'sopening at Punch Gallery, 119 Prefontaine Place S., and Saya Moriyasu'sat Gallery4Culture, 101 Prefontaine Place S.

In a romantic mood? The gnarly trees in Robert Marchessault'spaintings at Foster/White Gallery, 220 Third Ave. S., might hit the spot, but for restrained realist elegance, head for Phinney Ridge, where Norman Lundin'slandscapes open Friday, with a reception for the artist Oct. 15, 2-4 p.m., at the Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave. N.

Enjoying your contempt for glass? Then skip Dante Marioni'sopening tonight at William Traver Gallery, 110 Union St.. Only the dead could fail to fall for his endlessly fertile exuberance. Want a thrill? Rachel Maxi'soil paintings of paved-over paradises opened earlier this week at the Baas Gallery, 2703 E. Madison St., and run through the month.